Garment-clasp



(No Modei.) G. G. SHELBY.

GARMENT- GLASP.

No. 455,643. Patented July '7', 1891.

WITNESSES: INVENTOI? W Maw.

' 2m" Arm/mm. g

tapering opening into which a bight of the llnirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER 1C. SHELBY, OF PATERSON,-NEWV JERSEY.

" GARMENT-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,648, dated July 7, 1891.

, Application filed December 13, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that CHRISTOPHER (J. SHEL- BY, of Paterson,in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment- Clasps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in garment-clasps, and particularly to that class employed on hose-supporters which have a fabric ora button is inserted and held by being drawn to the smaller end.

The invention consists, broadly stated, in forming the frame of the clasp of flat relatively wide sheet metal and the holding-jaws of wire united to the frame at suitable points.

Further, the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter described, and pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of clasp constructed in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a slightly-modified form of clasp. Figs. at, 5, and 6 are similar views showing different ways of joining the wire and frame.

Like letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The frame A of the clasp is preferably struck up of sheet metal and has a tapering or substantially V-shaped opening therein, the frame and opening being of the same shape as in the ordinary clasp of this character, although this form is not material so far as this invention is concerned. The opening is somewhat wider than usual, and in order to form the holding-jaws the opening is bounded by a wire or wires B, which in the preferred form aresecured to the frame A by means of ears or otherwise at points above and below the holding-point or point where the bight of fabric is clamped, the result of which arrangement is that the wire has a slight spring $erial No. 374,582. (No model.)

clasp strength and rigidity and also in a" measure assists in holding the fabric, as will be at once understood.

If desired, the wire forming the holding-- jaws may be a single piece, as shown in the drawings, the lower end or doubled portion being united to the frame by being passed through an opening D immediately below the V-shaped opening, (see Fig. 2,) and the upper portion is held by lugs or ears E on the frame. In addition to these ears the wires may be soldered or otherwise held, and the ends of the wire are carried above the frame and united by a cylinder F to form the cross-bar for the attachment of the web of the supporter.

To prevent the spreading of the frame at the top, it may be formed with a cross-piece G, which cross-piece also performs an important office in retaining-the web of the sup-.

porter in proper position under all circumstances.

In Figs. 1, 4, and 6 it will be observedthe wire B is slightly flattened to give greater stability and present a somewhat more neat appearance.

Obviously the specific manner of arranging and securing the frame and wire together may be greatly changed without departing from the scope of this invention, as shown, for instance, in Figs. 5 and 6, in the first of which, it will be seen, the frame A is formed completeand at the top constitutes the cross- .bar for the attachment of the web of the supporter, and the wire terminates at each side of the V-shaped opening, the ends being held in relatively long ears struck up from the frame. In the latter, Fig. 6, the wire does not pass through an opening at the bottom of the frame, but is held by lugs or cars H on the frame, which are bent out over the doubled end of the wire, and the frame at the top is held by ears, as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

The advantages of the converging springjaws and relatively rigid frame on which they are mounted enable the bight of fabric to be held very securely without danger of tearing the same or bending or distorting the clasp,

which features at once recommend the device to the purchaser, and it is so simple and cheap that it may be manufactured and sold at a very low price.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new is- 1. A garment-clasp formed of the substantially rigid frame with the opening therein and having the converging yielding Wire jaws secured thereto above and below the yielding portion on the surface of the frame, said jaws being adapted to hold a bight of fabric by the wedging action between them, substantially as described.

2. A garment-clasp having the substantially rigid frame with the substantially V-shaped opening therein adapted to hold a bight of fabric by the Wedging action between the sides, and the yielding wire jaws passing along the edges of the V-shaped opening parallel therewith throughout the converging portion, said yielding wire jaws being rigidly connected to the frame at top and bottom, substantially as described.

3. In a clasp, the combination, with the relatively rigid frame having the substantially V-shaped opening therein, of the yielding converging jaws formed of wire united to CHRISTOPHER C. SHELBY.

Witnesses:

THOMAS W. RANDALL, WM. 0. SHELBY. 

